February 9, 2018

Our Top 10 Iconic spots on the North Shore

A fun
filled few days spent on the North Shore of Hawaii where we love to live the
Aloha way, embracing the salty and sunkissed skin with nothing but a huge grin.
Here are our favourite spots on the 7 mile stretch of luscious beaches,
friendly peeps and easy eats.

Sunrise Shack // Sunset Beach

A cute little
shack that you can’t miss since it’s the colour of the sun and plonked right on
the side of the street at Sunset Beach. The menu is full of items that promote
health, strength and happiness and it was here we stopped by for our
bulletproof coffee and papaya bowls every morning. The three Smith brothers
(Travis, Koa and Alex) wanted to share their goal of optimal health with
others, and so the Sunrise Shack was born. Take your breakkie just across the
road and sit in the sand at Sunset for the perfect way to start your Hawaiian
day.

Pipeline // Pupukea Beach

Perched on the
deck of the Billabong house watching the Pipe Masters is always a surreal
moment. Pinch us, please! The wave is a whole lot of water, breaking incredibly
close to the shore and sounds like thunder as it crashes onto the shallow
cavernous reef below. You can easily while away a whole day watching the
surfers pull into perfect barrels at one of the best beach breaks in the world.
We spent a lot of time hypnotized by the sheer magnitude of the wave, the
bravery and skill of the surfers and the beauty of Pupukea Beach. The best time
of year for waves is the Hawaiian Winter (Dec-March), but can still be visited
any other time of year.

Haleiwa Bowls // Haleiwa Town

Haleiwa
(pronounced hah-lay-EE-wah) is the cutest community that still has an old
school charm to it; evident in the building facades, signposts and aloha
attitude. Hawaiian’s know how to do acai and it becomes a daily staple when you
are on the North Shore. A simple DIY menu ensures your bowl is exactly the way you
like it. Choose from one of 2 acai blends, and top with whatever you please;
from the sweet stuff like fresh berries, coconut flakes and honey, to the
superfoods like bee pollen, maca powder and spirulina. We could literally have
one for breakfast, lunch and dinner!

Teds Bakery // Kamehameha Highway

When away on
holiday, it’s the perfect chance to treat yo’self. Ted’s Bakery has the best
selection of pies, cakes, bread and pastries. Don’t be fooled though, Ted’s is
more than just a bakery. The most popular items are the garlic shrimp, loco
moco, fried rice special, chocolate-haupia pie and pineapple macadamia nut
cheesecake, all staples in the Hawaiian diet. If you like to stick to what you
know, then go for the bacon and egg roll…. It won’t disappoint, trust us. We
tried it.

Pua’ena Point // Halewia

If Pipeline is
a little out of your surfing ability, then Pua’ena Point is perfect for a
paddle. Located just outside Haleiwa boat harbour, there are three different
take-off zones so if you are just learning you can hang on the inside and surf
the gentle waves that roll through. It’s always a little smaller than other
surf spots on the North Shore and a lot of surf schools have their lessons here
so you can be assured it is beginner friendly. We spent some time surfing here
with Josie Prendergast and it was magic to watch her slide and glide across the
water with the style and grace of a dancer.

Honos Shrimp Truck // Haleiwa

Giovanni’s is
the famous food truck known for their shrimps coated in butter and garlic
goodness (we call them prawns down under). The line was so long here, we
decided to try the one just next to it, ‘Honos’. With similar menus and similar
looking trucks, It truly rivals Giovanni’s and the underdog may even be better.
Always go for the Shrimp Scampi if it’s your first time, it comes with 2 scoops
of rice and coleslaw and the perfect amount of shrimps if you are feeling
famished. Prepare to be finger lickin’ as you have to de-shell them yourself,
but boy is it worth it. Parking is also a mission, so go before or after the
lunch rush for a shrimp sensation.

San Lorenzo Shaved Ice // Haleiwa

Find the cute
little red barn style shop and you have found a Hawaiian specialty, shaved ice
with sweet, sticky syrups. With an endless list of flavour combinations, our
favourite was the Endless Summer; watermelon, lemon and passionfruit with
vanilla ice-cream on the bottom. Dairy-free; just omit the ice-cream! Any kind
of icy cold beverage on a hot Hawaiian day does wonders, and shaved ice is no
exception. It’s definitely a must-try if it is your first time to the island of
Aloha and there are different shops serving up the goods all along the Haleiwa
town strip, often serving up over 1,000 on a typical warm day.

Sunset // Turtle Bay

You don’t have
to be staying at the luxurious Turtle Bay resort to enjoy their facilities.
Head there about 5pm to grab a perch to watch the sun go down. It’s a magical
spot with breathtaking views of palm trees and the sea sparkling as the sun
sets while surfers get their final waves
for the day. They often have live music playing AND you can go for a dip in the
pool while you wait for your Skinny Chi Chi and Poke bowl to be served up. The
beach on the south side of the resort is a calm bay, perfect for swimming in
and pulling up a picnic blanket.

The Banyan Tree // Kawela Bay

Once used as a
backdrop on the TV show ‘Lost” and the blockbuster “Pirates of the Caribbean”
the Banyan tree is a maze of roots, tunnels and shadows and a sight worth
seeing. The shaded grove makes for a perfect picnic spot, or you can keep
wandering through to Kawela Bay; one of the quietest beaches on the North
Shore. A super calm bay that is great for kayaking, stand up paddle boarding
and swimming with lots of shade under the palms surrounding the beautiful bay.
A secret we discovered by serendipity and the urge to explore the North Shore
off the beaten track. Just across the road is the most luscious fruit stand of
all. Already cut up pieces of papaya, the sweetest pineapple, and most
refreshing watermelon for you to take on your travels.

Sharks Cove // Pupukea

Don’t be
put off swimming at this spot; it got its namesake due to the reef on the outer
edge of the cove being shaped like a shark when viewed from above. Boasting
incredibly blue water and an abundance of marine life, this is THE spot to
snorkel or dive (being named one of the top 12 shore dives in the world FYI). Expect to see parrot fish, butterfly fish,
eels, sea urchins and even turtles! Due to the cove being between the big surf
breaks of Waimea Bay and Pipeline, when the swell is big, the current gets
mighty strong in this neck of the woods, so opt to go when the sea is a bit
smaller. Just across the street there is a a few food trucks if you feel
famished from all the snorkelling and splashing about, as well as surfboard rental
and boutique Hawaiian style shops for all your souvenirs.